December 27, 2009

RECORD-REVIEW "Talk of the Town" - Dec. 27, 2009

"TALK OF THE TOWN"By Bonni BrodnickPound Ridge is alight with holiday glow after last weekend’s nor’ easter that brought several inches of snow. In an excerpted letter from my book, Pound Ridge Past: Remembrances of Our Townsfolk, Joseph D. Quillian, Jr., the Community Church pastor (from 1946-50) wrote: “I always remember with great warmth, and a sense of lift of spirit, the Christmas Eve services at Pound Ridge Church. Frequently, we would have had a beautiful snowfall that evening. On either side of the front of the white church were two trees decorated with blue lights. Inside, there were candles and beautiful crystal chandeliers. The service consisted of Christmas scriptures intermingled with solos and duets, and my brief sermon. We always started at 11 o’clock and concluded on the stroke of midnight, at which time one of the parishioners went over to ring the only bell in town, which was at the Presbyterian Church [now Conant Hall]. As he rang the church bell, people left the Pound Ridge Church. Many of them would have come from formal parties and were dressed in evening clothes.”

At a holiday gathering at the Town House, A. William Schelling (Billy), who is retiring as head of the Highway Department, was honored for his exemplary service. Supervisor Gary Warshauer commended Billy and his nearly 40 years of service to our town both as an employee and as “an amazing volunteer.” Billy was always there, 24/7, for everyone. We wish him a future filled with all the best.

Supervisor Warshauer also thanked Town Housers Joanne Pace and Marianne Vitelli for coordinating the party. (Evelyn Olsen, former executive assistant to the Supervisor, was there to relax this year.) He remembered two townsfolk who passed away this year: Anne Aldridge, whose gracious demeanor represented our town well whenever you called or walked into the Town House; and Leonard Scofield, a tenth generation Pound Ridger (and Gary Warshauer’s high school math teacher) who served in many civic capacities, including chairman of the zoning board of appeals and deputy town supervisor. A tree will be planted in memory of Anne and Leonard this spring.

Six days and counting to New Year’s Eve 2010. Whether you’re hosting or attending a party, you might as well go completely nuts. Bobbysue’s Nuts are plain and simply … scrumptious. Addictive, even. Made from organic nuts (almonds, cashews and pecans), egg whites, sugar and spices, varieties include “Nuts,” “It’s Raining Chocolate,” and the spicy “Some Like it Hot.” Another delicious part is that a portion of every nut dollar from each jar sold goes to fund the SPCA no-kill animal shelter in Briarcliff Manor.

The founding of Bobbysue’s Nuts is a kooky story. Pound Ridger Deb Mehne and Barb Kobren (from Briarcliff Manor) were serving on the board of the SPCA when they met Sue Spiegel (Armonk) while she was making a film about the dog shelter. “Our three like-minds share a love of cooking, great food, deep concern for our environment and an abiding stewardship for the homeless animal population, particularly those in our care at the SPCA,” said Deb. “Our aged facility in Briarcliff provides as adequate a shelter as possible, but it was originally built in 1883 and needs many repairs. After years of traditional fundraising, we decided to bring our dreams to fruition and launched our passion to one day fund the building of a new animal shelter.” And so it came to pass that Bobbysue's Nuts! was born. The seed work began in 2008, and the entrepreneurial enterprise was launched in April 2009 at the SPCA Walk-a-thon, of course. Where can you buy this savory potion that goes for $9.99 for an 8-oz. jar? Go to www.bobbysuesnuts.com or find them locally at Bedford Gourmet, Table Local Market (Bedford Hills), Mt. Kisco Seafood and Ladle of Love (Mount Kisco).